**4. Banana and pharmaceutical industries**

Pharmaceutical industries demand for fast dissolving tablets [45] to facilitate drug onset of action, higher patient acceptance, and increased bioavailability [46, 47]. Banana, a natural superdisintegrant can be used as pharmaceutical excipient for oral drug delivery due to exhibition of faster drug dissolution which leads to improved bioavailability, effective therapy (therapeutic ratio), improved patient compliance, and satisfies all the standards of fast dissolving tablet. Various formulations were prepared by direct compression method using superdisintegrants like banana (2%), sodium starch glycolate (4%), and cross carmlose sodium (6%). The mixture was analyzed for different pre-compression parameters (angle of repose and tapped density) and post-compression parameters (thickness, drug constituents, weight variation, hardness, wetting time, friability, dissolution and disintegration time as well as drug release). It was concluded from the result that banana powder showed better disintegrating property over synthetic superdisintegrants such as SSG (sodium starch glycolate) and CCS (cross carmelose sodium) [45].

In another work by [48], dehydrated banana powder and potato starch were prepared and subjected to analysis. Physicochemical parameters, bulk and tape densities along with angle of repose, Hausner ratio, Carr's index, solubility, and melting point were assessed. FTIR spectroscopy was then performed to study the interaction between aceclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and the excipients. Direct compression method was employed for the tablet preparation using the disintegrants, and the disintegration time of the tablet formulations was monitored. To depict the release mechanism from the tablet system dissolution, study was carried out and data were fitted to different kinetic models. The result revealed that tablets of banana powder *(M. acuminata)* and potato starch disintegrate more rapidly than that of microcrystalline cellulose. The prepared formulations passed the evaluation tests including weight variation, hardness, friability, and content uniformity. Therefore, banana powder and potato starch have better disintegrant property than the microcrystalline cellulose.

Fermentation is one of the processes used by pharmaceutical industries in drug manufacturing. Effect of banana fermentation product, obtained by subjecting banana pulp juice to a pre-fermentation in the presence of *Streptococcus thermophilus* (DSMZ 28121 strain) and yeast *(Saccharomyces cerevisiae* ATCC 4126T), and postfermentation conducted in the presence of *Acetobacter* (*Acetobacter aceti,* DSMZ

3508), on antioxidation, probiotics, and pathogenic bacteria was compared to the unfermented banana pulp juice. The fermentation product was found to be effective in antioxidation (having higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity when compared to the commercial enzyme product) (**Figure 7)**, increasing the number of probiotics (*Lactobacillus acidophilus*), by 4–8 fold (**Figure 8**), in the intestinal tract, reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria (*E coli*), by 4 fold (**Figure 9**), in the intestinal tract, and relieving constipation symptoms. Therefore, the product can be used as an edible or a pharmaceutical composite [49].

Nanoparticles are used to increase the surface-to-volume ratio of pharmaceutical agents. These particles can pass through biological barriers and are made from a wide array of biocompatible materials that can be used in food and pharmaceutical industries [50, 51]. Nanoparticles from native and acetylated banana starch were prepared and used as nanovehicles for curcumin encapsulation and release. Acetylation proved to be a powerful chemical alteration for encapsulation of hydrogen bond donor molecules like curcumin. A strong nanoparticle-curcumin interaction is formed due to increased number of hydrogen bond-accepting sites. This allows more curcumin molecules into the starch nanoparticles. Encapsulation does not affect properties such as particle size and polydispersity index, proving that it is possible to design nanoparticles from banana starch with sizes below 250 nm. This result showed that ABSNp (acetylated banana starch nanoparticle) allowed more controlled release of curcumin in gastric medium, which could be a defining factor in their potential use in drug and nutraceuticals delivery [52].

Banana peel is an abundant byproduct of agro waste which is under investigation as an economical and feasible alternative carbon source for the cultivation and the growth of probiotic *lactobacilli*. It was found that there was no significant difference in the growth of *lactobacilli* between banana peel medium and commercial De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium. Banana peel waste can therefore be used for probiotic*, lactobacilli* production. The tested strains of *lactobacillus* demonstrated extraordinary growth at 37°C and pH 6.0. It can be summed up from this work that using banana peel agro waste would be optimal both economically as well as environmentally for probiotics production [53]. It was observed that pectin extracted from banana exhibited a good flow property and can be used as pharmaceutical excipient to prepare the solid and semisolid dosage form [54]. Citric acid is extensively used in dairy, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biochemical industries. Current economic pressure and escalating cost of substrates for microbial growth and production necessitate the exploration of alternative organic substrates for microbial production by pharmaceutical industries. Banana peel can be utilized as a substrate for citric acid production by *Aspergillus niger* [55].

**17**

**geographical spread**

*Pharmacological Activities of Banana*

**Figure 8.**

**Figure 9.**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83299*

The shoot and callus cultures of banana (*Musa* sp.) were used to assess the accumulation of L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), an important intermediate of plant secondary metabolism which is orally administered to relieve Parkinson's disease (a progressive disorder associated with a deficiency of dopamine in the brain). Treatment of the cultures with L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine yielded higher levels of L-DOPA as compared to those in control cultures. Among the two amino acids, phenylalanine induced higher accumulation of L-DOPA. The study thus indicates that banana may be a potential resource to produce L-DOPA [56].

*Action of banana fermentation product on the number of pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal tract [49].*

*Effect of banana fermentation product on increasing the number of probiotics [49]. L226 strain = Lactobacillus* 

*acidophilus, L165 strain = Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L50 strain = Lactobacillus plantarum, L.g* 

*strain = Lactobacillus gasseri, 12,310 strain = Lactobacillus brevis.*

**5. Banana in global traditional medicine and beliefs including** 

Parts of banana, which include roots, pseudostems, stems, leaves, and flowers, have long been utilized in local and traditional medicine in America, Asia, Oceania,

**5.1 Banana in global traditional medicine and beliefs**

**Figure 7.** *Measurement of the content of SOD-like in the banana fermentation product [49].*

#### **Figure 8.**

*Banana Nutrition - Function and Processing Kinetics*

used as an edible or a pharmaceutical composite [49].

in their potential use in drug and nutraceuticals delivery [52].

substrate for citric acid production by *Aspergillus niger* [55].

*Measurement of the content of SOD-like in the banana fermentation product [49].*

3508), on antioxidation, probiotics, and pathogenic bacteria was compared to the unfermented banana pulp juice. The fermentation product was found to be effective in antioxidation (having higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity when compared to the commercial enzyme product) (**Figure 7)**, increasing the number of probiotics (*Lactobacillus acidophilus*), by 4–8 fold (**Figure 8**), in the intestinal tract, reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria (*E coli*), by 4 fold (**Figure 9**), in the intestinal tract, and relieving constipation symptoms. Therefore, the product can be

Nanoparticles are used to increase the surface-to-volume ratio of pharmaceutical agents. These particles can pass through biological barriers and are made from a wide array of biocompatible materials that can be used in food and pharmaceutical industries [50, 51]. Nanoparticles from native and acetylated banana starch were prepared and used as nanovehicles for curcumin encapsulation and release. Acetylation proved to be a powerful chemical alteration for encapsulation of hydrogen bond donor molecules like curcumin. A strong nanoparticle-curcumin interaction is formed due to increased number of hydrogen bond-accepting sites. This allows more curcumin molecules into the starch nanoparticles. Encapsulation does not affect properties such as particle size and polydispersity index, proving that it is possible to design nanoparticles from banana starch with sizes below 250 nm. This result showed that ABSNp (acetylated banana starch nanoparticle) allowed more controlled release of curcumin in gastric medium, which could be a defining factor

Banana peel is an abundant byproduct of agro waste which is under investigation as an economical and feasible alternative carbon source for the cultivation and the growth of probiotic *lactobacilli*. It was found that there was no significant difference in the growth of *lactobacilli* between banana peel medium and commercial De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium. Banana peel waste can therefore be used for probiotic*, lactobacilli* production. The tested strains of *lactobacillus* demonstrated extraordinary growth at 37°C and pH 6.0. It can be summed up from this work that using banana peel agro waste would be optimal both economically as well as environmentally for probiotics production [53]. It was observed that pectin extracted from banana exhibited a good flow property and can be used as pharmaceutical excipient to prepare the solid and semisolid dosage form [54]. Citric acid is extensively used in dairy, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biochemical industries. Current economic pressure and escalating cost of substrates for microbial growth and production necessitate the exploration of alternative organic substrates for microbial production by pharmaceutical industries. Banana peel can be utilized as a

**16**

**Figure 7.**

*Effect of banana fermentation product on increasing the number of probiotics [49]. L226 strain = Lactobacillus acidophilus, L165 strain = Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L50 strain = Lactobacillus plantarum, L.g strain = Lactobacillus gasseri, 12,310 strain = Lactobacillus brevis.*

**Figure 9.**

The shoot and callus cultures of banana (*Musa* sp.) were used to assess the accumulation of L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), an important intermediate of plant secondary metabolism which is orally administered to relieve Parkinson's disease (a progressive disorder associated with a deficiency of dopamine in the brain). Treatment of the cultures with L-tyrosine and L-phenylalanine yielded higher levels of L-DOPA as compared to those in control cultures. Among the two amino acids, phenylalanine induced higher accumulation of L-DOPA. The study thus indicates that banana may be a potential resource to produce L-DOPA [56].
